DHDL startup invents crazy throwing stick – one lion cries, the other cheers
After the DHDL deal, the founders of Chuck-a-Rubba are taking off with Glagau. This is how the prototype "Stickflip" became—and why Dümmel almost cried.
Have you always wanted to know how many times a stick spins when you throw it in the air – without counting? Now you have the answer: The "Chuck-a-Rubba" is a throwing stick that automatically counts the rotations in the air.
The toy was invented by Thomas Eichstetter, Rainer Lauberger, and Thomas Moch – and recently featured on the TV show " The Lion's Den ." Their mission: to find a lion who would help "bring the product to people at a reasonable price."
At the time of the pitch, they were on prototype number 50. And although, according to Carsten Maschmeyer , it was "not quite as cute yet," the previous models they brought along showed how far they had come – the design was once more reminiscent of a dildo.
The founders are demanding 100,000 euros for 30 percent of the company's shares. This corresponds to a valuation of approximately 330,000 euros.
Although Chuck-a-Rubba brings a good mood to the show, three lions quickly drop out of the competition. Carsten Maschmeyer finds the game funny, but he's not "crazy enough" to invest in a team that lacks expertise in "sales, production, and marketing."
Food entrepreneur Tillman Schulz also declines – on principle: He has vowed "never to touch anything that has to do with electronics." And entrepreneur Janna Ensthaler doubts whether users might quickly lose interest.
Read also
Nils Glagau and Ralf Dümmel see things differently. Both put the same offer on the table: €100,000 for 35 percent. Glagau explains the requested extra percentage as follows: "You're not your typical entrepreneurs." He can help the founders lead the "brand and your company toward success," says the Orthomol CEO.
Dümmel also emphasizes that he's "the right person." He has experience: He's already invested in several gaming startups with DS products, most recently in Bionic Toys from DHDL.
The founders listen to their gut and heart and decide on Glagau. Dümmel is close to tears. "Come on, Ralfi, everything's fine," Ensthaler tries to cheer him up.
The deal actually came about after the show, as Gründerszene learned from investors. And a lot has happened since then: Together with Nils Glagau, the founders set themselves the goal of creating a market-ready product by the time it aired on TV – and they succeeded.
The Chuck-a-Rubba prototype evolved into the final game, "Stickflip." It launched in early 2025, simultaneously in Germany and Poland.
"Stickflip is a toy with great potential—innovative, versatile, and appealing to a broad target audience. The founding team impressed me with their pitch in the cave, and the collaboration was constructive and productive from day one," says Glagau.
In addition to the new name, the founders also expanded the gameplay: Stickflip now offers ten different game variants—three more than originally planned. The price and design remained largely unchanged.
businessinsider
